Angie's List

PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ― How many times have you wished the dog whisperer could visit your house? Well, maybe you can't hire him, but it might be worth getting professional help if your pet is misbehaving.

In this week's Angie's List report, Jim Donovan tells you what you should look for in a professional animal trainer.

The first thing you should do is consider what type of training you want your your pet.

"There are many options for classes. So for your pet, you could have a group class, one-on-one training, you could even send them off to a boot camp where they might be there for a week or two. And obviously you want to investigate exactly how much this is going to cost because the private lessons where they are away for a week are probably going to more expensive than the group classes are going to be," said Angie's List founder, Angie Hicks.

Also, make sure you research the credentials of your trainer.

"Find out how much experience they have in training, especially in training the breed of dog you have. And then also, visit the trainer with your pet - see how they interact. And make sure you are comfortable with the way they are going to train your pet because the key to training is that you follow through with it when you're at home, so you need to be comfortable with the same methods that they're going to use," said Hicks.

More advice from Angie:

Does your pet need training?

• Before you enroll your pet in an animal training class, examine your goals - what do you want your pet to accomplish during the training?
• Some people want training to solve an obedience problem, others want to teach their pets advanced tricks.
• Consider your pet's personality. Is your pet stubborn? Easy to frighten? Knowing the temperament can help you pick the right person.

What to look for in a trainer:

It's essential that the dog trainer you select uses humane training techniques that encourage appropriate behavior

• through such positive reinforcement as food, attention, play, or praise.
• Look for a trainer who ignores undesirable responses or withholds rewards until the dog behaves appropriately.
• Training techniques should never involve yelling, choking, shaking the scruff, tugging on the leash, or other actions that frighten or inflict pain.
• Find out how many years of experience the trainer has, how they were educated, and what training methods they use. Check to see if the trainer is a member of any educational organizations such as the APDT (Association of Pet Dog Owners), and whether he/she pursue ongoing educational opportunities.
• Ask prospective trainers for several references from clients who completed the classes.
Don't assume that a trainer's membership in a dog trainer association qualifies him as a suitable instructor: Not all associations' membership criteria will meet your expectations

Questions to ask the training facility:

• Ask the trainer whether you can observe a class in session before signing up.
• Is proof of vaccination required?
• Are there separate classes for puppies and adult dogs? How big are the class sizes?
• Are there different class levels (beginner, intermediate, and advanced?)
• How much does training cost? Dog training can run anywhere to from free to $100 or more per session. Private lessons will likely cost more than group sessions. Take a look at your budget to help determine your needs and what you can afford.
• Inquire about the schedule: Some training classes are weekly and others may be more frequent. Some programs are offered at your home and others are offered at a training facility.
• Some dog owners prefer "boot camp" training sessions where the dog goes away to a special facility for several weeks.
• What items do you need to have before the training? (leashes, books, etc.)
Training a dog is only one step of the process. Owners have to learn a few lessons as well. At the end of the day, you have to utilize the skills that your dog understands. So the dog knows you know what you're talking about and that you are going to follow through with your expectations.

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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